G20 Brisbane: Passionate, but mostly peaceful protests

Cameron Atfield and Kim Stephens

As the world's leaders gathered in air-conditioned comfort, about 2000 people braved the Brisbane heat to march from Roma Street to South Brisbane in the biggest show of G20 resistance so far

It was a vocal but peaceful gathering, interrupted by police taking two women into custody, one identifying herself as "Sophie", after a bag search allegedly uncovered masks and a leatherman-style multipurpose tool.

A man holds a placard during a protest against G20 leaders. Photo: Daniel Munoz/Getty Images

While Aboriginal rights took centre stage at Roma Street for a second day running, there was barely a cause not covered.

Anti-capitalism, pro-renewable energy, anti-offshore detention, anti-coal and anti-war were all among the causes represented at the BrisCAN protest at Roma Street Parklands on Saturday where the first G20 arrests of two protesters took place.

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BrisCAN organiser Anthony Skerritt started his speech at Roma Street by condemning the killing of 43 students in Mexico.

Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto is among the world leaders in Brisbane for the G20 summit.

"Those people are over there speaking about ways and thinking about ways to make us pay, thinking about ways to make us sacrifice," he said.

"The answer coming from this community needs to be clear — no, we will not sacrifice to make the rich even richer."

Climate change and Australia's lack of action formed a key topic of attack as the estimated thousand strong crowd sweltered in soaring spring temperatures.

The angelic Climate Guardians travelled from Melbourne to take part in the protest, their white clad members and expansive wings designed for maximum visual impact.

Spokeswoman Liz Conor said the groups formed a year ago to highlight the desperate need for climate change action.

"We formed the Climate Angels out of desperation because we felt the government was not taking sufficient action for the climate crisis and our children were being led into a volatile future," she said.

"My girls, who are teenagers, will be 40 when the shit hits the fan basically.

"It's urgent, we need action, and if they are not going to listen to science, maybe they will listen to the angels."

Those "angels" flanked Queensland Greens Senator Larissa Waters as she addressed the crowd.

"Across the river, we've got the leaders of the world's biggest nations and they're talking about business as usual, of course," she said.

"They're talking about a 2 per cent growth target, like that is the most important thing to be talking about.

"They're talking about growth on a finite planet, which, frankly, is the definition of madness.

"Out here, it's a really hot day, isn't it? Lucky climate change is crap or we'd all be in a spot of bother."

Australian Manufacturing Workers Union national president Andrew Dettmer lamented the security blanket that had descended over Brisbane.

"This is my old home town and I've never seen it like this," he said.

"It's like a combination of a fortress and a ghost town and that's pretty appalling.

"If that's what's required to have international dialogue, I don't know that it's worth the candle."

Following a range of speeches, the gathered crowd — some, such as the Warriors of Aboriginal Resistance, boisterous, and others, such as Falun Gong, meditative — left the Roma Street forum bound for South Brisbane, via the Kurilpa Bridge.

The march merged with another protest — this one Ethiopian — just blocks away from the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Like every group, the Ethiopians were applauded as they entered Musgrave Park.

"We walked here as many, but we came here as one," Brisbane Sovereign Embassy leader Wayne Wharton said as the march concluded.